You’ll find all the information about COVID-19 and how it relates to churches here.
The primary graph to watch in terms of infection rates is this one
Read the advice from the World Health Organisation
This South African government website is also helpful: COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal.
The Regulations Portal is where the Government Gazettes are posted a summary of which is found below with particular attention given to the gathering of people at churches. This is ordered by date, most recent at the top.
Extension of Department of Health Rules pertaining to gatherings: 5 May – 5 July 2022 (for comment)
Posted in Gazette 46319, the regulations hereby indicated apply for a further 3 months and are open for comment for until 5 July. See here to submit a comment.
This mandates the continued wearing of masks in all “indoor public places,” however, interestingly, the distance requirement of “at least one metre from another person” has been removed. It also removes the previous exclusion of the wearing of a mask for children under the age of six – this, the writer trusts, is an oversight.
It further stipulates regulations for “gatherings” which are defined as “a planned assembly or meeting at a particular venue involving more than on hundred persons.” This term is utilised in terms of the stipulations that pertain to “gatherings” both indoors (limit of 50% venue capacity at all times but up to 1000 people but permitting more than 1000 people provided a vaccination certificate or negative covid test results within 72 hours are produced for all entering), and outdoors (limit of 50% venue capacity at all times but up to 2000 people but permitting more than 2000 people provided a vaccination certificate or negative covid test results within 72 hours are produced for all entering). Hotels, lodges, bed and breakfast facilities and all registered basic education institutions are excluded from this regulation.
Termination of the National State of Disaster with the Extension of Department of Health Rules pertaining to the spread of COVID-19: 4 April 2022
On this day the National State of Disaster was terminated. On this day, the Government Gazette 46195 was introduced to control the behaviour of citizens in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Adjusted Alert Level 1: 1 October 2021 – 4 April 2022
Posted in Gazette 45253, see here for summary which permits;
For gatherings which “are permitted but limited to 750 persons or less for indoor venues and 2000 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.”
For funerals, “attendance of a funeral and cremation is limited to 100 persons or less and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and all persons maintaining a distance of one and a half metres from each other.”
Adjusted Alert Level 2: 13 September – 30 September 2021
Posted in Gazette 45156, see here for summary which permits;
For gatherings which “are permitted but limited to 250 persons or less for indoor venues and 500 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.”
For funerals, “attendance of a funeral and cremation is limited to 50 persons or less and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and all persons maintaining a distance of one and a half metres from each other.”
Adjusted Alert Level 3: 25 July 2021 amended 30 July 2021 – 12 September
Posted in Gazette 44895, limitations of a maximum of 50 persons indoors and 100 persons outdoors continue with all mandatory health protocols in place, “subject to a limitation of 50 persons, or less and if the space is to small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the space may be used, subject to strict adherence all health protocols and social distancing measures.”
Adjusted Alert Level 4: 11 July – 25 July 2021
The previous restrictions are further extended for an additional two weeks (see Gazette 44838).
Adjusted Alert Level 4 Amendment dated 14 July posted Gazette 44850 adds the following amendment; “Gatherings at community engagements, hosted by members of Parliament, members of Provincial Legislatures, councilors, leaders of political parties, religions leaders, and traditional leaders to deal with emergency matters [emphasis added] that impact on management, treatment and prevention of Covid-19 pandemic, are permitted, subject to a limitation of 50 persons, or less and if the space is to small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the space may be used, subject to strict adherence all health protocols and social distancing measures.”
Adjusted Alert Level 4: 28 June 2021 – 11 July 2021
New legislation was posted in Gazette 44772. Additional restrictions in place for 14 days. After that we will assess the impact of these interventions and determine whether to maintain or adjust.
In place until 11 July.
All gatherings prohibited. These include political, cultural, social, religious gatherings. Funerals and cremations permitted but attendance at 50 max. Night vigils, after tears not allowed.
Beaches and parks remain open.
Curfew 9pm to 4am. Non essential establishments closed by 8pm.
Sale of alcohol completely banned – both on site and for at home. Prohibition will ease the pressure on hospitals.
Travel in and out of Gauteng for leisure purposes is prohibited. Does not include for work or for transport of goods. If you are not at your home you will be allowed to return home (no timeline given).
Restaurants will only be allowed to do take aways and delivery, can’t eat in.
Winter holidays for schools will be brought forward. Schools will start closing on Wednesday this week. They will be closed by Friday this week.
Contact classes for tertiary institutions to close by Wednesday. Residences will remain open.
Ministers will give more details on this.
All employers must allow their staff to work from home where possible.
The owners and managers of public buildings, centres, shops, restaurants, taxis and buses all have a responsibility to ensure that people on their premises or in their vehicles wear masks.”
Adjusted Level 3: Effective 16 June 2021– 27 June 2020
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 44715 issued 30 May 2021, states that, “All faith-based or religious gatherings: and social, political and cultural gatherings, are permitted but limited to 50 persons or less for indoor venues and 100 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.”
Funerals continue to be limited to 50 people indoors or 50% of venue capacity (whichever figure is the least) and a maximum of two hours in duration regardless of whether they are indoors or outdoors. After funeral gatherings are prohibited.
Adjusted Level 2: Effective 31 May 2021 – 15 June 2021
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 44642 issued 30 May 2021, states that, “All faith-based or religious gatherings: and social, political and cultural gatherings, are permitted but limited to 100 persons or less for indoor venues and 250 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.”
Funerals continue to be limited to 100 people indoors or 50% of venue capacity (whichever figure is the least) and a maximum of two hours in duration regardless of whether they are indoors or outdoors. After funeral gatherings are prohibited.
Adjusted Level 1: Effective 30 March 2021 – 30 May 2021
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 44367 issued 30 March 2021, state that “[a]ll faith-based or religious gatherings… are permitted but limited to 250 persons” or 50% of venue capacity (whichever figure is the least) “for indoor venues and 500 persons or less for outdoor venues” with all social distancing and sanitisation and hand cleansing protocols being kept in place (see 72.3). It seems there is no restriction on the length of the service.
Funerals continue to be limited to 100 people indoors or 50% of venue capacity (whichever figure is the least) and a maximum of two hours in duration regardless, it seems, of whether they are indoors or outdoors.
Level 1: Effective 1 March 2021-29 March 2021
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 44201 issued 28 February 2021, permit a maximum of 100 people indoors or 50% of venue capacity (whichever figure is the least) and 250 outdoors with all social distancing and sanitisation and hand cleansing protocols being kept in place (see 72.3). It seems there is no restriction on the length of the service.
All churches “must display the certificate of occupancy which sets out the maximum number of persons the facility may hold” (see 72.2).
Funerals are limited to 100 people indoors or 50% of venue capacity (whichever figure is the least) and a maximum of two hours in duration regardless, it seems, of whether they are indoors or outdoors.
Adjusted Level 3: Effective 2 February- 28 February 2021
Church gatherings are again permitted to a maximum of 50 people or 50% of the public venue space (whichever figure is the least) with all the social distancing and sanitisation and hand cleansing protocols being kept in place. See Government Gazette 44130 effective 1 February 2021.
Adjusted Level 3: Effective 11 January – 1 February 2021
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 44066 – issued 11 January 2020. This legislation ruled that, “All social gatherings and faith-based gatherings are prohibited” (36.3). A termination date has not been furnished. Further prohibitions pertaining to funerals are also stipulated.
Adjusted Level 3: Effective 29 December – 10 January 2021
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 44044 – issued 129 December but announced 28 December. This legislation ruled that, “All social gatherings, including faith-based gatherings are prohibited for two weeks, after which this provision will be reviewed” (83.3). This means that church services on Old Years Eve (31 December 2020), 3 January and 10 January 2020 are closed.
Level 1: Effective 21 September – 28 December 2020
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 43771 – issued 3 October 2020 (simply a repeal of Government Gazette 43365 of 28 May 2020)
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 43762 – issued 1 October 2020. This permits singing of the congregation but behind masks as the ban prohibiting singing under Gazette 43365 (of 28 May 2020) is removed under 43771 above. It also relaxes the requirements pertaining to the sanitisation of the building and equipment.
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 43725 – Issued 18 September 2020
Level 2: Effective 18 August – 20 September 2020
No changes in legislation pertaining to church gatherings
Level 3: Effective 1 June – 17 August 2020
Letter from the Baptist Union regarding opening churches – 2 June 2020
Letter from the BNA Executive to our churches – Level 3 – 29 May 2020
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 43364 – 28 May 2020
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 43365 – 28 May 2020
Clarification of the Government Regulations pertaining to a church by Horison Baptist Church – 28 May 2020
Level 4 Lockdown: 1 May – 31 May 2020
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Permit to Perform an Essential Service – 29 April 2020
Level 5 Lockdown: 27 March 2020 – 30 April 2020
Letter from the BNA Executive to our churches – Level 5 – 25 March 2020
New legislation pertaining to church gatherings – Government Gazette 43148 – 25 March 2020
Some members of the BNA Executive discuss how COVID-19 has impacted them personally and their churches, both positively and negatively…
Pastor Brian Viljoen; “I miss the people. I miss the Christian embrace. I miss the fellowship and the singing, and the praying. I yearn for that.”
Pastor Jacques Louw; “Church-wise, we’ve experienced …a disconnect – being able to connect with people electronically, but not really getting to their hearts…”
Pastor Parmesh Venkatasami; “The lockdown has enabled people to be more evangelistic.”
Pastor Dan Riddell; “It’s been good not have a manual on the way forward. I think as churches we tend to try to look at ‘Ok, this is the how we do it!’ And I think we’re all navigating uncharted waters…”
